Hoisting apparatus.



PATBNTED' JAN. 27, 1903 E. H. & V. R." BROWNING.

HOISTING APPARATUS.

. MODEL. APPLIOATIOK FILED OUT. 4, 1901.

Inc News PETERS co, PHDYO-LIYHOH WASHINGTON, 0. c.

No. 719,182. .PATBNTED JAN. 27, 1903.

E. H; & V. R. BROWNING.

HOISTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED 0013.4, 1901.

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llnirnn terns ATENT OFFICE.

EARL H. BROWNING AND VICTOR R. BROWNING, OF CLEVELAND, Ol-IIO.

HOISTING APPARATUS.

'EPECIFECATZON formingpart of Letters Patent N 0. 719,182, dated January27, 1903.

Application filed October 4,1901. gerial No. 77,611. (No model.)

To a whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EARL H. BROWNING and VICTOR R. BROWNING, citizensof the United States, residing; at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahogaand State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement inHoisting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in general to hoisting apparatus, and has moreparticular reference to the means employed for dispensing with theauxiliary hoist in devices of this character, said means consisting of achangespeed gearing which is connected with the motor in such a way thatby throwing in the low speed additional lifting force may be secured orby throwing in the high speed a more rapid lifting movement withconsequent loss of lifting force may be obtained.

Our invention has for its objects, therefore, the production of a devicewhereby the speed of lifting can be conveniently controlled withoutimpairing the efficiency of the motor and whereby greater compactnessand lightness and greater economy in manufacture may be secured.Numerous other features of construction embodying distinct advances inthe art are also employed, all of which will be fully set forth in thefollowing specification and the claims appended thereto.

In the drawings forming part of this application, Figure 1 is a planview of our improved hoisting device applied to the trolley of anoverhead traveling crane and showing in diagram the electricalconnection for the same. Fig. 2 shows a section taken through the centerof the change-speed mechanism. Fig. 3 is apartial end view of themechanism shown in Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a view, partly in elevation andpartly in section, of the magnetic clutch forcontrolling the hoistingmechanism.

Like reference characters designate cor responding parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Heretofore, as far as we are aware, it has been necessary, especiallyinoverhead traveling cranes, to provide two independent hoisting devicesto operate on light and heavy loads. To operate these craneseconomically, it is desirable that the speed of hoisting should beproportioned to the weight of the load 5 otherwise a light load wouldrequire as long a time for handling as would a much heavier one. It hasnot been practicable to change the speed of hoisting to a sufficientdegree with one hoisting device to satisfy the requirements for lightand heavy loads, however, without greatly sacrificing the efficiency ofthe motors employed, it being understood that in order to get thegreatest efficiency out of a motor it should be run at the speed forwhich it is designed.

In order to avoid the expense and the necessity of employing both a mainand an auxiliary hoist, we have devised a change-speedgear mechanism,which is connected to the shaft of our motor, by means of which We canat willconvert the single hoisting device from a main hoist for heavyloads to an auxiliary hoist for light loads. With these features ofconstruction we also combine certain safety appliances, so that ourhoisting mechanism is rendered entirely safe and reliable.

In the drawings,l,Fig.1,shows the runways, upon which the trolley havingour improved hoisting apparatus is adapted to travel. While we havechosen to show our invention as applied to a trolley for overheadtraveling cranes, it will be obvious that it may be embodied in any sortof hoisting mechanism or may be applied to any shaft which is intendedto drive other mechanisms at different speeds.

2 shows the track-wheels of the trolley, which roll upon the runways andwhich are turned to propel the trolley by the motor 3. Any suitablegearing may employed to connect this motor and the wheels, and we havenot deemed it necessary to show the same further than to indicate it at4 and 5.

6 is the hoisting-drum, which is suitably journaled in the side frames 7and 8 of the trolley and which is driven by the train of gearing 9, 10,11, and 12. The pinion 12 is mounted on a shaft to which is keyed themembers 13, 14, and 15 of a safety lowering device. The member 15 isprovided with a helical surface at 16, with which acorrespondingly-shaped surface on the sleeve 17 cooperates. Each of themembers 13 and 15 is provided with ratchet-rings, with which astationary pawl (not shown) engages, so that the members may turn in onedirection, but are held from rotation in the reverse direction.

Keyed or otherwise secured to the sleeve 17 i ww are two gears 18 and 19of difierent diameters, which mesh with another pair of gears 20 and 21,respectively, which are mounted should start to turn backwardly thepawl' would engage with the rat-chets and stop it unless the motor isitself driven backwardly to loosen the pressure between the helical surfaces. This is our invention onlyin the sense that we have employed itin a new combination. Hence it is not considered necessary to describeit further.

The motor for hoisting and lowering is shown at 23. This may be drivenby any suitable power,.such as electricity, steam, compressed air, gas,850.; but the electric motor is deemed preferable,and for that reasonsuch a one is shown in the drawings. We desire it to be understood,however, that we do not restrict ourselves to the use of electricityonly and that when the word motor occurs in the claims it is intended tocover any kind of motor unless the word is necessarily qualified by someother part of the, claim. The motor should be readily reversible, and inorder to secure such a result we connect with the same three trolleys24, 25. and 26, which contact with the trolley-wires 27,28, and 29,respectively. One of these wires, as 27, leads to the source of electricpower, as indicated at 30, and they all enter the controller 31, whichis operated by the lever 32. This lever makes contact with either of twosets of segments 33 or 34, as it is desired to operate the motor ineither direction. The controller is also provided with a switch-lever35, which is adapted to make contactat times with either of the twosegments 36 or 37. The switch-lever is connected to the controllerproper bythe cond uctor 38, and the segments are joined to twoconductors 39 and 40, respectively, which extend in the direction ofmotion of the hoisting-trolley. Bearing upon these conductors andconnected electrically with the hoist ing apparatus are two trolleys 41and 42.

In general it may be stated that a motor which has its field-magnets andarmature in series may be reversed either by reversing the direction ofthe current through the fields, the direction of current through thearmature remaining the same, or by reversing the direction of current inthe armature, the direction of that in the field-coils remaining thesame. It is in order to reverse one of the currents in this way that thethree trolleys 24, 25, and 26 and their three Wires 27, 28, and 29 areprovided. Assuming that the lever 32 is resting on one of the segments38, the current from the source of power 30 will flow through wire 27,trolley 24, the field-coils, (indicated at F E trolley 26, and wire 29to .the controller. This is a well-known method of wiring, and it is notdeemed necessary to illustrate or describe the same in any greaterdetail further than to state that no matter what direction the currenttakes through the field-magnets that through the armature which is inseries therewith always flows in the same direction or if the current isreversed in the armature that in the field will continue in the samedirection. From the resistance-coils in the controller the current isled through wire 28, trolley 25 to armature A A by wire 43 to a magnetic brake 44,-which is illustrated in detail in Fig. 4, and fromthence through wire 45 and brush 46 to a ring 47, which is supported bythe armature-shaft 22 near its end. On each side of the ring 47 aresimilar rings 48 and 49, whichv are respectively connected through theirbrushes 50 and 51 with wires 52 and 53, which lead to the trolleys 41and 42, hereinbefore referred to.

Loosely keyed to the motor-shaft 22, so as to be turned therewith andyet be capable of slight lateral movement thereon, is a central member54 of a double magnetic clutch. This member is provided on each of itssides with an annular recess, in each of which is embedded a coil ofmagnet-wire 55 and 56. Each of these coils has one of its ends connectedwith the central ring 47, and the opposite end of one coil is connectedto the ring 48 and the oppos te end of the other to'ring 49. When thecircuit is completed through ring 48', the current will flow, say,through coil 55, althoughthis obviously depends upon the manner in whichthe wires are connected. As will hereinafter appear, there will be nocurrent flowing through the coil 56 at this time, the only way to get acurrent through this coil being by completing the circuit through itsring 49.

Mounted loosely upon the shaft 22 on either side of the member 54 aretwo cooperating members of the friction-clutch 57 and 58, to which arerespectively secured the gearwheels 20 and 21, hereinbefore referred to.When the current is turned through the coil 55, the members 54 and 57are strongly attracted, with the result that the member 54 is drawn upagainst the member 57, and as the motor-shaft and member 54 are rotatingthe member 57, its pinion 20, and the train of gearing hereinbeforedescribed will be driven to rotate the drum. As the pinions 20 and 18are nearly the same size, it will be evident that the drum 6 will bedriven rapidly, in which case it is adapted to do the work which hasheretofore required an auxiliary hoisting device. If now the current isturned through the coil 56, the member 54 will be drawn into contactwith member 58 to drive the same, when the power will be transmittedthrough the small pinion 21 and gear 19 to the train of gearing,and thedrum will be driven slowly.

Owing to the great difference in size between the pinion and gear, atremendous lifting force is secured, although the speed of hoisting isnecessarily slow. A plate is secured about the member 57 and overlaps anannular shoulder on the member 54 to keep dirt, grease, 850., fromentering between these members.

The rings 47, 48, and 49 are insulated from the shaft 22 by means of anon-conducting sleeve 61, which is placed over the end of the shaft, andthe rings are separated from one another by insulating-bands 62, whichalso surround the sleeve. The sleeve, rings, and bands are held in placeby a plate 63, which is secured to the end of the shaft. The sleeve iscut away at its upper part, as seen in Fig. 2, where it appears in solidblack, in order to accommodate lugs 64 on the inner parts of the ringsto which the'ends of the magnet coils 55 and 56 are secured. Thiscut-away portion is also indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

From this description it will be understood that the current foroperating the clutch always fiows from the middle ring 47 into one orthe other of the magnet-coils 55 or 56. As has been explained, thecurrent after leaving the outside rings flows through the wires 52 or53, trolleys 41 or 42, and wires 39 or 40 to the segments 36 or 37. Ifthe switch-lever 35 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, nocurrent canflow, as it does not make contact with either of the segments. When itis placed on segment 36, however, the current will flow from the middlering 47 through,say, the coil 55 to drive the drum at a high speed,thence through ring 48, wire 52, trolley ll, Wire 39, segment 36, lever35, conductor 38, controller and wire 27 back to the source of power.When it is placed on segment 37, the current must flow through the coil56, which clutches the low-speed gear 21 to the shaft. Inasmuch as theswitch-lever cannot rest on both of the segments 36 and 37 at the sametime, it is evident that but one of the gears 20 or 21 can be clutchedto the shaft at any one time.

It is desirable to provide apparatus of this character with brakingdevices to hold the motor stationary except at such times as it isdesired to operate the same, when the brake should be automaticallyreleased. The brake 44, which is shown in Fig. 4 and which is intendedfor this purpose, has a band or strap 65, extending about the peripheryof the clutch members 54 and 58. While this band may be caused toengagewith some other rotating part of the mechanism, we prefer to place itabout the members of the clutch, as it thereby aids the safety loweringdevice heretofore described. Furthermore, when the current is broken andthe brake begins to operate it stops the motor by itsengagement with themember 54:, which is keyed to the shaft, and as the clutch is releasedat the same time the brake-strap holds the pinion by its engagement withthe member 58. The

band or strap 65 is secured at one of its ends to a pin 66 on a pivotedlever 67. This lever is provided with a weight 68, which always tends totighten the brake-strap about the clutch members. Arranged above theweight, so as to attract the same and lift the lever 67, is anelectromagnet 69, about which the current through the armature and coils55 or 56 passes. When, therefore, the circuit is closed by the switch35,the current will pass through the armature to rotate the drum andsimultaneously the current will cause the magnet 69 to loosen the brakeand cause the clutch to operate. From this description it will be seenthat while the lever 32 determines the speed with which the armatureturns and also its direction of rotation the motor-armature cannotreceive its current and its shaft cannot be released or clutched to thehoisting-gears until the lever 35 is 0perated.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In hoisting apparatus, a drum, a drivingshaft, a plurality of gearshaving different diameters loosely carried by said shaft, means for securing said gears to the shaft at will, and means connecting said gearswith the drum to drive the same at different, speeds and withoutchanging the direction of rotation of the drum.

2. A shaft, a drum, a plurality of gears loosely mounted on said shaft,said gears being provided with clutch members, means whereby said gearsare always driven in the same direction, a cooperating clutch membersecured to the shaft, means for forming a driving connection between anygear desired and said clutch member, and gearing connecting said gearand drum.

3. A shaft,aplurality of driven parts loosely mounted on said shaft, adriving member mounted on the shaft and capable of longitudinal movementthereon to cooperate with the driven parts, a brake for normally holdingthe shaft stationary, and means for releasing the brake and forconnecting one of the driven parts with the said driving memher.

4. A shaft-,a plurality of driven parts loosely mounted on said shaft, adriving member secured to the shaft to cooperate with the driven parts,a plurality of magnet-coils, one for each of the driven parts, and meansfor passing a current of electricity through any coil desired to clutchits corresponding driven part to the driving member.

5. A shaft,a plurality of driven parts loosely mounted on said shaft, adriving member socured to the shaft to cooperate with the driven parts,a plurality of magnet coils, one for each of the driven parts, a brakefor normally holding the shaft stationary, means for passing a currentof electricity through any magnet-coil desired to clutch itscorresponding driven part to the driving member, and

means for simultaneously releasing the brake to free the shaft.

6. A shaft,a plurality of driven parts loosely I mounted on said shaft,a driving member secured to the shaft to cooperate with the drivenparts, a plurality of magnet-coils, one for each of the driven parts,carried by the driving member, a brake for normally holding the shaftstationary, an electromagnet for releasing the brake, means for passinga current of electricity through the electromagnet to release the brake,and for simultaneously passing a current through any one of themagnetcoils desired to clutch its correspondingdriven part to thedriving member.

7. An electric motor, an armature for said motor, a shaft driven by themotor, a gear loosely mounted on the shaft, mechanism adapted to bedriven by said gear, an electric clutch for securing the gear to theshaft, and connections for passing a current through the armature andthe clutch to simultaneously start the shaft and clutch the gearthereto.

8. In hoisting apparatus, a drum, a motor, a shaft driven by said motor,an electric brake for normally holding said shaft stationary, andconnections for passinga current through the motor-armature and thebrake to simultaneously release and start the shaft, and drivingconnections between said shaft and drum.

9. In hoisting apparatus, a drum, a motor,

-a shaft driven by said motor, a gear-Wheel loosely mounted on saidshaft, an electric clutch for securing the gear to the shaft, drivingconnections between the gear and drum, and electric connections forpassing a current through the motor and the clutch to start the shaftand to simultaneously clutch the gear thereto.

10. A shaft, a plurality of gears loosely mounted on said shaft, aclutch member secured to the shaft, a plurality of magnetcoils, one foreach gear, carried by the clutch member, a plurality ofconducting-rings, one for each magnet-coil, carried by said shaft, anextra ring also carried by said shaft, connections for sending a currentof electricity into the said extra ring and for passing it about anymagnet-coil desired and thence out through the conducting-ringcorresponding with the said magnet-coil.

11. In hoisting apparatus, a drum, a motor, a shaft driven by saidmotor, a plurality of gear-wheels loosely mounted on said shaft, drivingconnections between said gear-Wheels and the drum, a clutch membersecured to the shaft and cooperating with the gearwhee'ls, a pluralityof magnet-coils carried by said clutch member, there being one coil foreach gear-wheel and means for passing an electric current through thearmature of the motor and through any of the magnet-coils desired toconnect the gear corresponding to that coil to the shaft and tosimultaneously start the motor. I

12. A shaft, a gear loosely mounted on said shaft, mechanism adapted tobe driven by said gear, aelutch member secured to the shaft, amagnet-coil carried by said clutch member, a brake normally engagingwith said member to hold it and the shaft from rotation, anelectromagnet for releasing said brake, and connections for passing acurrent through the electromagnet and the magnetcoil to release theclutch member and to simultaneously clutch it to the gear.

13. In hoisting apparatus, a drum, a motor for driving said drum thefield-magnets and armature of which are in series, means for reversingthe current in one of said parts of the motor, a shaft driven by themotor, a gear loosely mounted on said shaft, driving connections betweensaid gear and drum, a clutch member secured to the shaft, said memberbeing provided with a magnet-coil, and connections for passing a currentthrough the other part of said motor and the coil of the clutch memberto drive the shaft andto secure the gear thereto.

14. In hoisting apparatus, a drum, a motor for driving said drum thefield-magnets and armature of which are in series, means for reversingthe current in one of said parts of the motor, a shaft driven by themotor, a pinrality of gears loosely mounted on said shaft, drivingconnections between said gears and drum, a clutch member secured to theshaft, a plurality of magnet-coils, one for each of the gears, carriedby said clutch member, and connections for passing a current through theother part of the motor and through any one of the coils on the clutchmember to secure the corresponding gear to the shaft and to start themotor.

In testimony whereof We affix our signatures in the presence of twowitnesses.

EARL II. BROWNING. VICTOR R. BROWNING. Witnesses:

S. E. FoUTs, H. A. AUER.

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